IIT Mandi celebrates 8th Convocation in virtual mode

Mandi: Indian Institute of Technology Mandi celebrated its 8th Convocation on 12th December 2020, with a graduating class of 383 students (321 male & 62 female). Padma Vibhushan Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, National Research Professor and Former Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Prof. Prem Vrat, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Mandi, presided over the Convocation.

Virtually addressing the students at the 8th Convocation of IIT Mandi, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Chief Guest, said, “I want to begin by congratulating the parents of the graduating class and the graduates of the day then. Education is the best gift that the parents could have given to their children. You all are fortunate that IIT Mandi has equipped you fully with skills and tools to deal with the challenges most confidently. While we repair and recover from the unprecedented aftermath of the pandemic, there is also an opportunity to rethink, reimagine, and reinvent a new self-reliant India of our dreams.”

Degrees awarded were:

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Prem Vrat, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Mandi, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to congratulate the graduating students of IIT Mandi on the occasion of its 8^th Convocation ceremony. I sincerely hope that the knowledge and skill the graduating students have acquired and the ethos they have imbibed during their stay at IIT Mandi will stand them in good stead through the coming years of opportunities.”

“I feel quite happy to note that the Institute has made its mark in research, collaboration, and international linkages established over the past decade. It is an outstanding achievement to have research projects worth more than a hundred crores so far”, he added while highlighting the Institute’s achievements. “Above all, looking back and reflecting upon the last academic year, it is immensely gratifying to note that even in the face of immense challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute has been able to keep on track most of its academic and research programs by switching to digital and hybrid modes. I am sure that IIT Mandi, with its newly enriched sense of pride and contentment, added confidence and commitment, strengthened resolve, drive, and focus, would keep scaling the heights of excellence in times to come”, he added.

Presenting the Director’s Report, Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Mandi, said, “I offer my heartiest congratulations to all the graduating students on their success, and I sincerely thank Dr. Mashelkar for joining us as the Chief Guest of the 8th Convocation of IIT Mandi. I am proud to say despite several disruptions due to the pandemic this year, IIT Mandi researchers had more than 300 peer-reviewed publications keeping its research work ceaseless. IIT Mandi also made a debut at #7 in the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA 2020) of the Innovation Cell, Ministry of Education, Government of India. In the past 10 years, IIT Mandi has become an attractive destination for international students and faculty and fosters its linkages with the wider academic world through student and faculty mobility, as well as joint research projects and MoUs. The institute is also setting up a Technology Innovation Hub(TIH) with INR 110 Crores support from DST in the human-computer interaction area under the “national mission on the interdisciplinary cyber-physical system (NM-ICPS)”.

Virtually delivering this year’s Valedictorian’s address, Mr. Neelotpal Dutta, winner of President of India Gold Medal and Institute Silver Medal for Mechanical Engineering branch, said, “IIT Mandi is a unique combination of many remarkable things. On behalf of my graduating class, I am happy to say that we have seen the Institute grow. The Institute’s unique academic curriculum gave us the freedom to pursue courses and projects across traditional boundaries. As a result, our batch have made quality research publications in top journals, have presented their work at international conferences, and have participated in research at some of the greatest research organizations. We also have among us, co-founders of startups, and I believe that all of these have contributed to making IIT Mandi one of the top institutes in the country and globally.”